The Dutchman will be chosen by the coach to replace Sergio Busquets
If the captain leaves, the sports area will bet on signing an interior and De Jong will be non-transferable
Frenkie de Jong is on his way to being Xavi Hernández’s great bet for the midfield. The coach is beginning to be convinced that the Dutchman is the best option to replace Sergio Busquets’ more than possible exit at the end of the season and already this season he is testing him ahead of the defense. Given the difficulty of signing a top-level player to carry out this complicated function, Xavi will use resources in the squad giving stripes to a De Jong who is going to become untouchable.
De Jong has taken an undoubted step forward this season. He began somewhat hesitantly after a difficult summer in which he was close to leaving the Blaugrana club, but little by little he has been recovering his best version. Xavi has basically used him as an inside, a position in which he is comfortable, but already in the last stretch of the season the Dutchman has formed several times as an organizer in front of the defense. And his performance has been optimal.
The first idea of Xavi and the sports area was to sign a top-level midfielder to replace the departure of Busquets. And both Xavi and the sports director, Jordi Cruyff, were clear that the ideal candidate was Zubimendi, from Real Sociedad.
But The financial situation of the club and the salary limit of LaLiga make his arrival practically unfeasible for the 60 million euros of his termination clause. Faced with this situation, Xavi prefers not to bring any patch and solve the absence of the captain with the option of De Jong.
The coach has already been testing him in important matches and the reliability of the Dutchman is high. It seems that the next Blaugrana midfield will be made up of De Jong in front of the defence, supported by Pedri and Gavi on the wings. The two young footballers have grown tremendously and are undisputed starters on the team.
From this decision, Barça could focus more on the arrival of an interior player for next season with De Jong as a pivot. And that is where Rúben Neves or Kanté or even Jorginho could have a place. Everything will depend on economic conditions and the possibility of going to the market in summer.
UNTRANSFERABLE
What remains quite clear is that De Jong becomes absolutely non-transferable, since the commitment to the Dutchman is going to be clear and resounding. It is true that several clubs are very interested in him, but Barça no longer sells him and both he and his entourage know it.. He has gone from being on the market to being absolutely untouchable in the hope that he will grow in Busquets’ position.